Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 6:53 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 6:53 p.m.

Funeral services are planned Saturday for Charles R. Vernon, a Wilmington psychiatrist for four decades.

Vernon died Wednesday at his home in Wrightsville Beach. He was 86.

In 1979, Vernon received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor, for his work as state director of community mental health services. In the early 1960s, Vernon traveled to all 100 of the state's counties, meeting with local officials and setting up what would become the state's network of regional and community mental health centers.

Born Aug. 21, 1926, in Morganton, he was the son of James William Vernon and the former Sarah Cole Taylor.. One of his half-brothers was Isaac M. Taylor, dean of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina from 1964 to 1971 and father of the singer James Taylor.

Vernon attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied medicine at Case Western Reserve University and graduated from the UNC School of Medicine in 1952.

Vernon taught psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine for many years and practiced in Chapel Hill and Goldsboro before moving to Wilmington.

Survivors include his wife, Laura Harriss Head Vernon, three sons, two daughters and five grandchildren.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church, with a reception to follow in the Great Hall. Vernon's ashes will be interred in the St. Francis Memorial Garden at St. James Church.

<p>Funeral services are planned Saturday for Charles R. Vernon, a Wilmington psychiatrist for four decades.</p><p>Vernon died Wednesday at his home in Wrightsville Beach. He was 86.</p><p>In 1979, Vernon received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina's highest civilian honor, for his work as state director of community mental health services. In the early 1960s, Vernon traveled to all 100 of the state's counties, meeting with local officials and setting up what would become the state's network of regional and community mental health centers.</p><p>Born Aug. 21, 1926, in Morganton, he was the son of James William Vernon and the former Sarah Cole Taylor.. One of his half-brothers was Isaac M. Taylor, dean of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina from 1964 to 1971 and father of the singer James Taylor.</p><p>Vernon attended the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He studied medicine at Case Western Reserve University and graduated from the UNC School of Medicine in 1952.</p><p>Vernon taught psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine for many years and practiced in Chapel Hill and Goldsboro before moving to Wilmington.</p><p>Survivors include his wife, Laura Harriss Head Vernon, three sons, two daughters and five grandchildren.</p><p>Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. James Episcopal Church, with a reception to follow in the Great Hall. Vernon's ashes will be interred in the St. Francis Memorial Garden at St. James Church.</p><p><i></p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic14"><b>Ben Steelman</b></a>: 343-2208</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsOnline</i></p>